Happy faces are always found at Gastonia Farmer’s Market

Published: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 08:47 PM.

Early Saturday morning you could find a great long line waiting to buy the first tomatoes of the season to arrive at the Gastonia Farmers Market.

Lick Fork Farm of Cherryville had a sell-out. Stan and Melissa Beam filled their tables with big, beautiful red tomatoes and I must say that the first tomato sandwich of the season is a “show stopper.”

It’s the most simple, delicious dinner that does not require a master chef’s cookbook. All one needs is a southern traditional grocery list of home-grown tomatoes, mayonnaise and bread. That’s it...plain and simple. Take it to a higher level and add a meat of choice, cheese and lettuce from the field. If you have time, make it extra special and whip up a special tangy mayo or dressing by adding fresh from the garden herbs. My husband likes to add spring onions and a side dish of his cucumber pickles.

Several vendors at the market now have hot house cucumbers on their tables. Those little, green jewels are great on tasty country tomato sandwiches and in another southern treat, vegetable sandwiches made with early spring crops found at local farmer’s markets.

The market was also paid a surprise visit by a new future vendor, Renaissance Pastierre . Chef Rivet, a true French pastry chef and baker will be bringing French pastries and his charming talents to Gastonia Farmer’s Market in mid-May. Rivet brought documentation to show his amazing resume of his past employments with Oprah Winfrey and many famous stars. Rivet will delight you with his products as well as his stories of his exciting life. Renaissance will be using fresh, local fruits, berries and hen eggs from our market farmers.

On the grassy lot, located on the East side of the market you can expect to find more new vendors, such as, Minacci’s Garden and their new bright green food truck. The Minacci family will be bringing Italian herbs, vegetables, fruits, berries and an Italian menu ready to take home right from the chef’s oven. The Minacci’s will also be presenting creative live chef demonstrations at the market this season.

The Hall Family from Clover, will be selling Japanese Maples and they have a “special sale” to promote the planting of maples. And Mr. or Mrs. Hall will be more that happy to teach you many pruning techniques and answer questions.

Early Saturday morning you could find a great long line waiting to buy the first tomatoes of the season to arrive at the Gastonia Farmers Market.

Lick Fork Farm of Cherryville had a sell-out. Stan and Melissa Beam filled their tables with big, beautiful red tomatoes and I must say that the first tomato sandwich of the season is a “show stopper.”

It’s the most simple, delicious dinner that does not require a master chef’s cookbook. All one needs is a southern traditional grocery list of home-grown tomatoes, mayonnaise and bread. That’s it...plain and simple. Take it to a higher level and add a meat of choice, cheese and lettuce from the field. If you have time, make it extra special and whip up a special tangy mayo or dressing by adding fresh from the garden herbs. My husband likes to add spring onions and a side dish of his cucumber pickles.

Several vendors at the market now have hot house cucumbers on their tables. Those little, green jewels are great on tasty country tomato sandwiches and in another southern treat, vegetable sandwiches made with early spring crops found at local farmer’s markets.

The market was also paid a surprise visit by a new future vendor, Renaissance Pastierre . Chef Rivet, a true French pastry chef and baker will be bringing French pastries and his charming talents to Gastonia Farmer’s Market in mid-May. Rivet brought documentation to show his amazing resume of his past employments with Oprah Winfrey and many famous stars. Rivet will delight you with his products as well as his stories of his exciting life. Renaissance will be using fresh, local fruits, berries and hen eggs from our market farmers.

On the grassy lot, located on the East side of the market you can expect to find more new vendors, such as, Minacci’s Garden and their new bright green food truck. The Minacci family will be bringing Italian herbs, vegetables, fruits, berries and an Italian menu ready to take home right from the chef’s oven. The Minacci’s will also be presenting creative live chef demonstrations at the market this season.

The Hall Family from Clover, will be selling Japanese Maples and they have a “special sale” to promote the planting of maples. And Mr. or Mrs. Hall will be more that happy to teach you many pruning techniques and answer questions.

Other new vendors have plans to join our market family as their market products are available to bring to market. Gastonia Farmer’s Market is in the planning stage of improving the parking lot. There will be major changes to the front lot of the building, as well as a new Handicap Parking Area.

You can help others by dropping off gently used eyeglasses for the Lion’s Club. And you can buy a Lions Club broom. Stop by the office.

Kidz Club participants will be learning to plant tomato plants and each child will take home their planting. There will be a contest in August for Kidz Club members to bring in their best tomato and possibly win the Grand Prize. Photos will be taken and published in The Gazette.

Once again, shop early and bring lots of small bills and change.

Bring a friend to shop the market or shop for a friend who does not have access to local, fresh-from-the-farm produce. You’ll be glad that you did !

Carol Schrum , manager of the Gastonia Farmers Market, writes a weekly report for The Gazette.